Get a goat - Issuu

from Get Your Goat - Seacoast Scene - 06/03/2021

By Rob Levey & Matt Ingersoll

ing,” she said. “Pigs and goats can cost between $800 to $1,000 a year without any catastrophic vet bills.”

While dogs and cats tend to get most of Here are a few additional considerthe attention when it comes to preferred ations based on animal type. pets, there are alternatives that can make a great addition to your family. Goats

According to Michelle Murch, Equine Ideal amount of space: Depending on and Farm Program Manager at the New the context, a goat does not need a lot of Hampshire SPCA, some of the animals space, but it depends on the town. Resourcthey adopt out include horses, pigs, goats, es include Massachusetts Farm Bureau or chickens, roosters and ducks. If you are New Hampshire Farm Bureau Federation. considering one of these types of “farm” “Wether goats — castrated male goats — animals, she said the first thing to do is to make the quietest pets and need a shelter see if they are allowed in your town and that is what type of restrictions exist. warm and dry,” said Michelle Aulson of

“Many towns allow you to have chick- Goats to Go, located at Great Rock Farm in ens and not roosters because roosters are Georgetown, Mass. “A south-facing shelloud,” she said. “Some don’t allow for ter with an enclosure around is best. It does farm animals at not have to be a all.” huge space. They

For those who just need to get can have such ani- out and entertain mals in their town, themselves. Murch said a few What they do major factors drive most of the time: It people’s interest in depends on why you owning them. have them.

“People like “You want to give uniqueness, and them toys and things these animals are to jump on or eat, super cute when and you need goatthey are little, but safe fencing,” said they don’t stay lit- Aulson. “They can tle,” she said. escape from differ-

While some want ent things and they these animals to Goat pose during Great Rock Farm’s Goat Yoga. like to jump. They happily live out- Courtesy photo. can wiggle through side, she said other or jump through reasons include companionship, especial- fencing. You can let them get out and run ly when it comes to horses. around out of their everyday routine.”

“Same idea of adopting a cat or dog as Their needs: Goats need fresh water, a companion could go for a horse,” she free of parasites. If you have wethers, you said. can feed them hay.

According to children’s book author “We use alfalfa hay because it is the richDiane Robbins Jones, whose horse Rudy est and most nutritious hay, but you need a is the star of a book series with the same manger type of container that catches the name, a good owner learns how to speak hay that falls,” said Aulson. “You cannot ‘horse’ and stop speaking ‘human.’ feed them moldy hay, or dusty hay, because

“Rudy interprets body language and they will cough. It has to be quality hay.” facial expressions to determine how you According to Aulson, you also always are that day,” she said. need at least two goats to keep each oth-

For those interested in chickens and er company. ducks, Murch said they make good pets if “They can get socially depressed if they you socialize them. are alone,” she said. “Goats are fun, mis- dewormed. Fun fact: “My mother, Maureen, has

“Ducks can pick up behaviors as can chievous, curious creatures. They are a fun “You also need to clip their hooves and sold some of our fainting goats to Dr. D goats and horses,” she noted. animal to have as a pet. We always tell peo- may need to treat for basic lice or ticks,” with Animal Planet, and they are now liv-

For the general cost to maintain farm ple, ‘Don’t build an enclosure for two goats Aulson said. “You need clean, dry areas for ing in Alaska,” she said. “She also sold animals as pets, Murch said a rule of because you’ll probably want eight or nine the goats because they do not like mud and some most recently to Jonathan Knight of thumb is that the larger the animal the or 10.’” do not like to get their feet wet.” New Kids on the Block and HGTV’s Farmmore expensive the bills. What you need to do for them: If a goat Cost: Goats to Go sells wethers for $275 house Fixer. Some of our goats — and me

“For example, there’s the cost of the is lethargic, it can be socially depressed and females does for $375. — were also on the second episode of that horse alone and then you have board- or might have a parasite and need to be Lifespan: Roughly 13 to 15 years. show.”

Diane Robbins Jones with her horse Rudy. Courtesy photo.

Courtesy of Goats to Go.

Horses

Ideal amount of space: “Ideally, you need 1 to 2 acres per horse,” said Murch. “As long as horses have an acre to graze and wander, they can get adequate exercise. It is better to keep them active as they age just like people and you need enough space for them to move about.”

Their needs

According to Jones, horses are herd animals and happiest when with other horses.

“Some horses like goats, but other equines are best,” she said.

Jones said horses also require time with you.

“My fastest trip at the barn is about 2 1/2 hours,” she said. “Horses are inherently generous and give and beyond what they should. It should be a true partnership and not just take, take, take. I always give him something in return.”

Cost: According to Jones, barn fees can be very expensive.

“The low end is $500 per month with hay and grain included, but it is probably more like $650 per month,” she said. “For a barn with an indoor wash stall, running hot water, heated water in winter, and indoor riding arena with good footing, it can be upwards of $900 per month.”

Try before you buy: Jones suggests volunteering in a barn.

“Go volunteer at a barn — mucking stalls, filling water troughs,” she said. “Witness how things work and lease before you buy…. You have to do a lot of research into how they are breaking the horse and when they started riding it. It is a tiptoe, not a dive into the horse world.”

Chickens, ducks, roosters and pigs

Ideal amount of space: Chickens and ducks exercise themselves.

“Here at NHSPCA, we try to keep them from getting bored,” said Murch. “We have pools for ducks, ice cubes for pigs and food balls for chickens as long as they have the space to roam.”

Pigs are different.

“You might be OK with 80 square feet for a pig because they are lazy,” said Murch.

Their needs: Describing them as “super messy and tough in winter,” Murch said ducks require a lot of water.

“They have to have water for them in the winter,” she said. “They have to be able to dunk their heads and that can make for messy conditions.”

In addition to requiring water, ducks also need others.

“You typically need more than one,” Murch said. “Ducks need three females for every male because the males beat up on each other and become aggressive, and they beat up the females during breeding.”

Roosters, however, are best left alone in general.

“Roosters can be mean so you wouldn’t want more than one of them,” she said.

Have a site visit: Murch said NHSCPA tries to do site visits for any farm animal.

“Farm animals are more of a commitment,” she said. “They need adequate shelter, and you need the accommodations for these animals. Videos or photos have been sent in with Covid when we have not been able to make site visits.”

Murch said they also offer adoption counseling.

“We want to be sure that people understand the costs and needs of these animals,” she said.

To learn more about adopting a farm animal, visit nhspca.org.

Alpacas

Why you might want them: Not to be confused with llamas, alpacas are much smaller animals that were bred specifically for their fiber rather than for packing.

“Llamas have fiber, but mostly only around their mid-waist. Alpacas are strictly fiber animals,” said Barbie Tilton of Someday Farm in Canterbury, which is currently home to six alpacas.

According to Sandy Warner of Granite State Alpacas, based in Hampton Falls, alpacas are considered the easiest large

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Photo courtesy of Granite State Alpacas.

livestock animal to care for because they require the least input from owners.

“[They] are hypoallergenic animals and their fiber and finished products are ideal for anyone who has wool allergies,” Warner said in an email. “Their coats are also naturally wicking, odor-resistant and anti-static.”

There are two fleece types, according to Wendy Lundquist of Snow Pond Farm in Windham — huacaya, which is characterized by its dreadlock-like fibers, and suri, which looks more like fluffy teddy bears.

What they do most of the time:

According to Megan Long, whose family owns Nodrog Farms in Barrington, alpacas are very laid back animals that mostly eat, sleep or sunbathe in warm weather.

“Occasionally you will see them pronking around the yard, but mostly they are an easygoing animal,” Long said.

Ideal amount of space: Like with any other herd animals, Warner said the more space the better. Multiple pastures are ideal, with separate pastures to keep males and females apart.

“I’d say two [alpacas] are good, but three is company. The more the merrier,” Tilton said. “They like to be in a herd with a whole bunch of other alpacas.”

Smallest possible amount of space:

Warner said she recommends at least 1 acre per two to three alpacas.

Their needs: Alpacas need shelter from wind and the elements, with at least a runin shelter if not also a barn.

“They need to be shorn once a year, or they can be overheated in the summer wearing their winter wool,” Warner said.

Tilton said her alpacas also get ivermectin shots at least every 30 days, to protect them from a deadly parasite known as the meningeal worm that passes through feces in deer.

What you need to do for them: Alpacas should always have fresh hay, fresh water, grain, mineral supplements, toenail trimming and annual shearing. Similar to cats, Warner said, they can be aloof by nature.

“The more time you spend with them the more social they become,” she said.

Cost (of animal and upkeep): Long said that on average it costs about $500 per year for each individual animal.

Lifespan: Alpacas can live up to 20 years or longer, according to Warner.

Occasional animal: You can also contact a local alpaca farm or animal shelter to see if they have any alpacas that may need to be fostered, Long said.

Dear Car Talk: My mom’s 100th birthday is next month, and I’d love to be there for it. She lives in New York. I’m in Ohio. Unfortunately, due to the pandemic, I’m still By Ray Magliozzi reluctant to fly or stay in a hotel. Do you have any suggestions for a vehicle I might rent for travel and living, assuming that I can find a place to park, for four to five days? My 2010 Prius would be good for the former but not for the latter. Thanks. — Tim

Absolutely, Tim. You need to rent an RV.

Now wait, I know what you’re thinking. You’re imagining something the size of a greyhound bus, with a Ford Expedition hanging off the back for “short jaunts.” But not all RVs are humongous. There are van-sized RVs and even minivan-sized RVs. And you can rent one for a week.

Search online for RV rentals and have a look at some of the options. Winnebago and Cruise America are two of the big RV rental outfits, but you’ll find others.

It’ll cost you more in gas than your Prius would. But it’ll save you money on hotels and plane fare. And think of the adventure; you’ll see a thousand miles of asphalt you’ve never seen before.

You could do the drive in one long day and just get there. But if you want to break it up, just search online for RV campgrounds. You’ll find places you can stop overnight, use the facilities, rest up and enjoy a $6 snack-sized bag of Sun Chips. Some are in peaceful, rural areas and some are right near major highways for convenience.

I don’t know where to suggest you park the RV in New York. Does your mom live in New York City proper? If so, you could act like a native New Yorker and just double park it with the flashers on for four or five days.

Or pay a guy to drive it around the block for the week.

Actually, I’d use Google Maps and find some parking lots and garages near where your mom lives. Then call them and make an arrangement in advance with the manager to park the RV there. They’ll probably want to know its dimensions to make sure it fits. And get them to agree on a price in advance.

Or you could park in a lot during the day and drive yourself to the outskirts of the city and spend your nights at an RV campground if you’re worried about Mom.

Either way, have a safe trip, and wish Mom a very happy birthday for us, Tim. Dear Car Talk:

I have a 2004 Volvo S60, grayish-green, with an engine problem that has occurred three times. It happens when the engine is warm. After I’ve made a brief stop (like for shopping), the engine will start, but runs very rough. Then, when I start to drive, I cannot get the car to go more than around 20 mph, no matter how much I press on the gas pedal. My “check engine” light comes on, and I get a message saying “poor engine performance.” When I come to a stop, I put it in neutral and the engine surges. I’ve managed to get the car home all three times, and the next morning, the engine runs fine, though the check engine light and the performance warning are still on. Eventually, the light and warning go off, so I haven’t taken it to a mechanic. What do you suggest? — John

I suggest taking it to a mechanic, John. I love it when you can’t go more than 20 mph and the engine is sputtering, and you get a helpful message on the dash that says “poor engine performance.” Well, duh! But here’s why a trip to the mechanic is essential, John. Whenever your check engine light comes on, your car’s computer stores a fault code.

With the help of a scan tool, your mechanic can then read that stored code and know exactly what caused your check engine light to come on.

My guess is that your electric throttle module is failing. The throttle is the mechanism attached to your gas pedal that regulates how much fuel and air are sent into the cylinders.

In the old days, the throttle was connected to the gas pedal by a cable. But now it’s done electronically. An electronic signal tells the ETM the exact position of your gas pedal, and the ETM then operates a servomotor to open and close the throttle.

Volvo had a problem where the contacts inside their ETMs were wearing out and causing the exact symptoms you describe, John. They even extended the warranty on those ETMs for a bunch of cars to 200,000 miles. Unfortunately for you, it’s 10 years or 200,000 miles, so you’re about seven years late in getting to your mechanic. Keep that in mind next time you ignore your check engine light, John. Anyway, once you get the car scanned and confirm that the problem is the ETM, you might want to call your Volvo dealer and ask if you’re eligible for any help in repairing the car. They might tell you to go pound Swedish meatballs, but it’s worth asking. Then compare the repair price at the dealer to an independent Volvo garage and go with whichever is cheaper.

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